tabourin



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. A. TABOURIN.

VOLTAIG ARC LAMP.

No. 315,571. Pa,tented Apr. 14, 1885.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Mode'L) G. A. TABOURIN. VOLTAIO ARC LAMP. No. 315,571. Patented Apr. 14, 18 85.

UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

GEORGES ANTOINE TABOURIN, OF MARSEILLES, FRANCE.

VOLTAlC-ARC LAMP.

EQPECIFIQATIUN forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,571, dated April 14, 1885.

Application filed March 1, 1584.

(No model.) Patented in France November 9, 1883, No. 158,491; in Belgium January 12, 1881, No.

63,819; in Lnxemburg January 12, 1884, No. 3-19; in Austria-Hungary January 19, 1884, No HALO/960 and No. 25,181/948; in Italy January 26, 1884, 16,370, and in England January 26, 1884, No. 2,216.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGES A. TABOURIN, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Marseilles, in the French Republic, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voltaic-Arc Lamps, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in France, No. 158,491, dated November 9, 1883; in Belgium, No. 63,819, dated January 12, 1884; in Luxemburg, No. 349, dated January 12, 1884.; in Austria I-Iungary, No. 12,110/960 and No. 25,181/948, dated January 19, 1884; in Italy, No. 16,370, dated January 26, 188i, and in England, No. 2,216, dated January 26, 1884,) and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of voltaic-arclamps, to the mode of feeding the carbons, and to the arrangement of the latter relatively to each other, as hereinafter fully described, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a voltaic-arc lamp constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a like view, on an enlarged scale, of the upper portion of the lamp, the carbon-holder, and parts connected therewith; and Fig. 3 is an under side plan view of the same.

One of the objects of this invention is to feed the carbons in such manner as to adapt the arc lamp to a greater range of ornamentation than these have hitherto been capable of, and also to entirely conceal from view the carbon-feeding devices.

The further object of the invention is to simplify and increase the eiiiciency of the carbon-feeding devices and to cause said devices to act with greater precision and rapidity to feed the carbons automatically as they are consumed; and the further object of the invention is to improve the cliiciency of this class of lamps.

In the drawings, T and T indicate two tubular holders bent into U shape, both their longer and shorter legs 16 and 25, respectively, being inclined toward each other, the latter, t t, having such an inclination that two carbons arranged therein and projecting therefrom will meet at their points and form the apex of a triangle. In other words, the inclination of the legs 13 toward each other is such that the p roj ected axial lines thereof will intersect at a fixed point to form the apex of the triangle, such fixed point being the zone of combustion of one of the carbons.

It is obvious that it a carbon is arranged in each leg 25 of the tubular holders, and means provided to project the same from the holder, the points of such carbons will meet at a fixed point and form the apex of the triangle, and if means are provided that tend to constantly force the carbons out of the tube it is obvious that they will remain in contact at all times, whatever the consumption thereof due to combustion may be. In this manner I obtain a fixed point at which the point of one of the carbons of an arc lamp will invariably stand whatever the variations in form or volume of the carbon point may be. Of course it will be understood that the two carbons in legs t constitute one of the electrodes of the lamp.

Various mechanical appliances may be em ployed whereby the two carbons O and Ccontained in legs t and 13, respectively, are forced outward by a power exerted thereon continuously. This may be effected, for instance, by a suitable train of gearing or by cord, pulley, and weight or other known appliances or devices for effecting this purpose.

One of the objects of the invention is to make the lamp as ornamental as possible and to conceal within the ornamentation the operating devices of the lamp. To this end I preferably employ carbon-feeding devices capable of being contained in the tubular arms that serve to support other operative devices of the lamp. The carbons C 0 may be fed toward each other by the application of a power exerted thereon uninterruptedly in various ways.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a very simple arrangement of effecting this, which consists, essentially, of supports that will hold the carbons G O in contact with each same as they burn away through the medium other with a yielding pressure and feed the of a power exerted upon their support by an 1 and in electrical connection therewith, is so inert body sufficiently more ponderous than the carbon and its support or bearing to overcome the resistance thereof and exert a constant pressure thereon, the tendency of which is to eject the carbons from the tubes,and consequently to maintain the said carbons in constant contact at their points, which is that point at which their axial lines intersect, as stated, or the fixed point of combustion.

As shown, the carbons O and O are supported in sockets formed in cylindricalheads F F,fitted loosely in the tubes T T, respectively, said heads being secured each to one end of coiled springs S and S, also fitted loosely in tubes T T, respectively. To the opposite end of each spring S S is fitted a follower, f and f, respectively, upon which rest metallic weights or cylindrical bars B B, re spectively. It is obvious that by means of this arrangement of spring feeding devices any desired curvature may be given to the tubes T and T so long as they are provided with a rectilinear portion at one end for the reception and proper operation of the carbons C G, and a like portion 'for the reception and proper operation of the weights B B, which latter portion may be at the opposite end of the tubes, or it may be at some point interme diate of two curvatures in the tubes. Consequently the tubes may be bent into any desired form between the two rectilinear portions, 13 t and t t", or between said portions and in rear of portion t 25 as it is evident that the ends ot'the tubes at It may be extended and recurved, for instance, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, by making them in convenient sections, without interfering with the feeding devices, since the springs are suificiently elastic to adapt themselves to the sinuosities of the tubes without having their functions impaired thereby. At their upper ends the tubes are secured to a bridge or brace, or disk, D, of wood, hard rubber, or other non-conducting material, and they are secured thereto by means of a strap, (1, of leather or other suitable non-conductor, and screws (1. lVhatever form of brace may be employed, I prefer to recess the same for the reception of the legs t t of the tubes T T, though these may be secured in any other desired manner to any suitable or convenient non-conducting retaining device, many ornamental forms of which will suggest themselves to the constructer. Upon this bridge are secured binding-posts P P for the linewires, as hereinafter explained. Perforated metallic screw-caps c c are screwed upon the inner converging ends of the legs of the tubes T T, through which project the carbons, and by which said carbons are properly guided in their movements toward each other, and said tube ends are secured to a metallic bridge or brace or disk, D, to which said tubes are secured by means of a metallic strap and screws d", or in any other preferred or desired manner. To the under side of this bridge,

cured a binding-post, p, for purposes presently explained.

Below the brace D is located a third brace, D of wood or other non-condueting material, to which the tubes T T are secured, and from which are supported two solenoids, A and A, for purposes hereinafter described. At their lower bent portion the tubes may be braced together by any desired ornamental brace, E, as shown, thus imparting to the lamp a graceful and ornamental appearance. carbon, C", is also contained within a metallic tubular holder, H, closed at its upper end by an ornamental metallic cap or plug, it. In mediately below the plug it the tubular holder is provided with one or more ports or openings, h", and upon the lower end of said holder is screwed a platinum cap, H, or a cap of some other suitable refractory material, that has an axial perforation of such diameter as to allow the point 0* only of the carbon C to project through said opening, thereby preventing said carbon from passing out of the tube, except to the extent necessary to produce the arc. The screw-cap H has a series of ports, h, formed by notches around its axial orifice, and the holder H is of considerably greater interior diameter than the carbon and parts connected therewith, so as to form practically a draftflue through which upward currents are induced by the heat at the lower end thereof when the lamp is in operation, thereby promoting combustion and increasing the brilliancy of the light.

A is a solenoid connected with the line-wire, and is wound upon a tubular metallic core, G, that has a tubular extension, G, said extension being adjustably secured in a metallic sleeve, 9, by means of a set-screw, 9, said sleeve being rigidly connected with the brace D. At its lower end, below the brace D, the tubular extension G of the core of the solenoid A is closed by a metallic screw-plug, I, upon one side of which is a tubular bearing, i, closed by a screwcap, t", that contains a spring-actuated contact-piece, I, which bears lightly upon the carbon-holder H, that passes through and projects downwardly from said plug I, for purposes presently explained.

The upper annular face of plug I forms a bearing, upon which is seated one end of a coiled spring, S, that surrounds the carbonholder H, the opposite end of said spring abutting against the annular lower face of a tubular soft-iron armature, K, rigidly mounted upon the carbon-holder H. The upper end of the tubular core G of the solenoid is closed by a tubular screw cap or plug, L, that has an extension, Z, projecting into the said core or spindle and inclosing the carbon-holder H, that passes through and projects from the upper end of said plug L, which is provided with a suitable thumbpiece, Z, whereby it may be conveniently screwed in and out of core G, the upper end of which is screw-threadedinteriorly for the purpose. The carbon C at its The second upper end is fitted within a socket formed in stance, by the adj ustability of the collar M a solid metallic bar or red, B of such weight as to hold the carbon by a constant pressure in the axial orifice of the screw-cap H", whereby said carbon is automatically fed downward as it burns away. The power of the spring S is so, calculated as to nearly counterbalance the weight of the parts suspended therefromnamely, the holder H and parts contained thereby and connected therewit-h-sai d carbon holder H being arranged relatively to the screw-plugL so as to slide therein. By means of the armature K and the tubular extension of the screw-plug L the distance between the carbon C and the carbons O C may be adjusted with great nicety--that is to say, the extreme limit to which the point of the carbon 0 shall be carried away from the carbons G C may be regulated with great nicet-y.

To insure perfect electrical connection between the carbon C and the solenoid A through the medium of the carbon-holder Hthat is to say, in order to increase the metallic contacting-surfaces between said carbon and solenoid-I employ in addition to the spring contact-piece 1, bearing upon the tubular holder, a contactspring, S, secured by a bindingscrew, 8, in a metallic collar, M, rigidly eonneeted by means of a set-screw, s, with the holder H at a point intermediate of the screw cap H and screw-plug I, in which said tube also slides. The spring terminates in a curl that passes through a slot, h", in holder H, and bears lightly upon the carbon.

As stated, the carbon-holder H and parts connected therewith and contained therein are supported from a yielding or elastic bearing and capable of vertical movement within the supports and core of the solenoid. It has also been stated that the power exerted by said yielding or elastic bearing upon the carbonholder H and parts connected therewith and contained therein nearly counterbalances the weight thereof, so that but a very slightpower is required to lift the holder. It is obvious, therefore, that when an electric current passes through the solenoid the action. of the latter upon the soft-iron armature of the holder will be such as to attract the same and relieve the yielding or elastic hearing from a part of the weight ofthe holder, thereby enabling the fornr er to lift or assistin lifting the said holder. Un less means are provided to limit this upward motion, the attraction of the soleno'd and the power exerted by the elastic bearing for the 'holder would lift the latter so far away from the carbons O C as to destroy the proper relations between them and the carbon C. The devices for limiting this upward motion have hereinbefore been described, and by their adjustment, as set forth, the limit of upward movement of the carbon-holder can be regulated with the greatest nicety, and a fixed point at which the lamp attains its greatest efficiency can be determined with facility. Other means may be employed whereby this desired result can be obtained-as, for inupon the tubular holder H, whereby thelimit of the upward movement of the holder may be determined with substantially as great facility and nicety; or this may be effected by any other desired or preferred adjustable stop arranged above the screw-plug L in the path of the holder, which stop, when properly adjusted, will determine the limit of the upward movement of said holder.

Having described the general construction and organization of the lamp, I will now describe its electrical connections and its oper ation.

1 indicates the line-wire or the wire coming from the generator; 2, a branch wire thereof, connected with the solenoid A and 3 a branch wire connected to binding-post P,with which is also connected a wire, at, that places the solenoid A in electrical connection with the line, one terminal of the solenoid being in electrical connection through binding-post p with a platinum pin or point, N, secured in a plug, 0, of some suitable non-conducting material, fitted in the upper end of the tubular core Q; of the solenoids A A, the solenoid A being connected by wire 5 with the binding-post p on brace D on the one hand, and on the other with a branch wire, 6, of wire 8, that connects with binding-post l? and line-wire or return-wire 9, a second branch wire, 7, being connected with a plug, 0, by means of a binding-screw, 8, said plug being screwed into the lower end of the tubular spool Q. The plug 0 may be made of metal if the spool Q of the solenoid is made of some nonconducting material, as will be readily understood.

Asshown in the drawings, the solenoids A A are wound on a double spool, Q, of metal, and the convolutions thereof are suitably insulated. Into the tubular axial opening q of the spool projects the platinum pin N, as above set forth. Through the plug 0 passes a copper rod, R, upon which is rigidly secured an armature, U, of soft iron, said rod and armature being supported upon a spring, S, coiled around the rod, one end of which spring bears against the plug 0, the other against the air nular face of the armature U, so that the copper rod R is supported by a yielding bearing and free to move vertically within the axial opening of the spool Q and plug 0'. The power of the spring S" is slightly greater than the power exerted by the weight of the cop per rod and its armature, and when thelamp is not in operation or cut out of the circuit the rod R is lifted by the spring into contact with the platinum point.

The number of convolutions of the wire composing the solenoid A, as well as the sec tional area of said wire, are so calculated as to offer to the passage of the electric current when said solenoid is called into operation a resistance equal to or slightly greater than the combined resistances of the solenoids A and A When the lamp is notin operation, the carminishing bon point (1 lies in contact with the carbonpoints G, as usual, the weight of the carbon-holder H being sufficiently greater than the power exerted by the spring S to overcome the resistance of said spring to its downward motion, as hereinbefore statednamely, that the power of the spring nearly counterbalances the weight of the carbon-holder and parts connected therewith and contained therein. An electric current coming from a generator, or through line-wire 1, before entering the lamp will be divided, one portion passing to the bindingpost P, the other portion to the solenoid A, one terminal, a", of which is connected with its spool, and through said spool to plug I, contact I, tubular holder H, contact-spring S, to the carbon 0 thence through carbons O 0, their holders, and the metallic bridge or brace D, binding-post 9, wire 5, solenoid A, branch wire 6, wire 8, to binding-post P, and back to generator or line wire 9.

As above stated, a portion of the current coming from wire 1 passes by wire 3 to binding-post P, thence by wire A to solenoid A, the resistance of which, as stated, is equal to or slightly greater than the combined resistance of solenoids A A thence by bindingpost p, platinum point or pin N, copper rod R, plug 0, branch wire 7 and wire 8, where the two currents unite, thence to bindingpost P, back to generator or to line by wire 9. This electrical condition changes, however, almost instantaneously. As the solenoids A A are influenced by the current, the former will attract the armature K on carbon-holder H, which latter commences to ascend, thereby increasing the distance between the carbon C and carbons C 0, developing the are, while the solenoid A attracts the armature U, drawing the rod It down against the tension of the spring S and interrupting the contact between said rod and the platinum wire'or pin N, and owing to the greater resistance of solenoid A, this interruption takes place before the voltaic are is developed, thereby preventing the production of sparks at that point. As soon as this contact is interrupted the entire electric current passes through solenoid A carbonholder H, carbon 0 &c., to solenoid A, and thence by branch wire 7 to wire 8, binding-post P to wire 9, as above set forth, the solenoid A attracting the armature K to move the holder H and carbon C to the limit of their upward movement, as fixed by the adjustment of the plug L, when the arc will be fully developed and remain invariable, since said carbon 0" will be held stationary at that point as long as the required conditions of the electric current remain constant. Should the conditions of the current, however, vary and its power fall below that required to maintain the carbon 0* at the point of greatest distance from the carbons C 0, the power of the solenoid A will vary accordingly, and the carbon C will approach the carbons O 0, thereby dithe resistance at that point to the passage of the current, as well as the intensity of the voltaic arc, in proportion to the varia tions in said electric current. Should the passage of the current through the lamp be interrupted by reason of a derangement of any of the devices influenced by the solenoid A, or by a failure from any cause of the passage of the current through tubes T T, the solenoid A would at once cease to influence the armature U, leaving the spring S" free to act upon it, and carry the rod R in contact with the platinum pin N, thereby establishing communication between wires 1 and 9 through soleir oid A, the entire current passing then from said wire 1 through solenoid A to wire 9 and connections, as hereinbefore described, thus cutting the lamp out of the circuit. It will of course be understood that the solenoids A Amayhaveseparatespools. For convenience, I prefer to form the two spools of one piece.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an arc lamp, a bent tubular carbonholder, in combination with feeding devices arranged within the holder and adapted to ac commodate themselves to the curvature thereof, as described, for the purpose specified.

2. In an arc lamp, an electrode composed of two carbons, tubular holders for the same, arranged at an angle to each other, and feeding devices consisting of a spring-bearing for the carbons and an inert body arranged to exert constant pressure upon the spring-bearing, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In an arc lamp, an electrode composed of two carbons, in combination with holders for the same, consisting of benttubes having their legs arranged at an angle to each other for the reception of the carbons, and feeding devices contained within the holders and adapted to accommodate themselves to the curvatures there of to feed the carbons toward each other and maintaintheir points in contact, for the purposes specified.

i. The combination, in an arc lamp, with one of the electrodes composed of two carbons C C, of the bent tubular holders T T, and feeding devices for said carbons contained in said holders, consisting of the elastic supports or bearings S S and F F, the followersff, and means, substantially as described, whereby a constant pressure may be applied to said follower, for the purposes specified.

5. In an arc lamp, the combination, sub stantially as described, ofone of the electrodes composed of two carbons G O, the tubular holders T T, bearings or supports F F, springs S S, followers f f, and the weights B B, said parts being arranged substantially as de scribed, for the purposes specified.

6. In a voltaic-arc lamp, the combination, with one of the carbons, of a tubular holder therefor arranged relatively to each other to form an annular passage between them open at both ends, and serving asa draft-flue, as de scribed, and for the purposes specified.

7. The combination,with the carbon 0 of a tubular holder inclosing the same, except at its point, and having draft-orifices at both ends, whereby an upward draft is induced at the point of incandescence or combustion, subiitantially as described, for the purpose speci- 8. The combination,with the carbon C", of a tubular holder inclosing the same, except at its point, and having a draft orifice or orifices at its upper end, and the cap H, having an axial orifice of less diameter than the body of the carbon, and draft orifices or ports formed around said axial orifice, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

9. The combination, substantially as herein described, of carbons O G O", a tubular holder carrying an armature and inclosing the latter carbon, except at its point, the screw-cap H, the weight B", the solenoid A in the spool of which said holderisloosely fitted, the screwplug L, having a tubular extension Z, and the spring S for the purpose specified.

10. The combination, substantially as herein described, of the carbon 0 a tubular holder for the same, a solenoid, in the spool of which said holder is loosely fitted, and a contactpiece connected with and passing through the core of the solenoid in contact with said holder, for the purpose specified.

11. The combination, with the solenoid A having a spool provided with a tubular extension closed at both ends by tubular screwpl u gs, and atubular carbon-holder fitted loosely within said tubular spool of the solenoid and passing loosely through the screw-caps, and

containing the feeding devices for the carbon, of a yielding or elasticbearing for said holder, to limit its movements in one direction by a yielding pressure, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

12. The combination, in a voltaic-arc lamp, with the two carbons of the lamp, of three solenoids, A A A suitable electrical connec tions between the solenoids and carbons and the main line, and a shunt influenced by the solenoid A, whereby the solenoid A is automatically cut out of the circuit on the passage of an electrical currentthrough said solenoids and through the lamp, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

13. The combination, in a voltaicarclamp, substantially as described, of the two electrodes of the lamp, the solenoids A A A, the latter having a resistance equal to or greater than the combined resistance of the solenoids A A, suitable electrical connections between the solenoids, the carbons, and main line, and a shunt whereby the solenoid A is automatically cut out of the circuit on the interruption of the current through the lamp, for the purpose specified.

14. In a voltaic-arc lamp, the combination, substantially as described, with the solenoids A A, their tubular spool closed at both ends, a platinum wire or point projecting within the spool, and the movable copper rod R,contained and moving freely within said spool, and provided with a tubular armature,and supported from a yielding or elastic bearing, of the carbons of the lamp and suitable electrical connections between said carbons, the solenoids, and the main line, for the purposes specified.

15. In a voltaic-arc lamp, the combination of the carbon-holder H, its armature K, the carbon G the feeding devices for said carbon, contained within said holder and supported from a yielding bearing, and the solenoid A surrounding said holder and in electrical connection therewith and with the carbon therein, with the carbons C 0, arranged for operation as set forth, the solenoids A A, their electrical connections, and a shunt controlled by solenoid A, said parts being arranged substantially as and for the purposes specified.

16. The combination of the tubular carbonholders T T, the carbons O O and means for feedin the same, as described, contained within said holders, the braces D D'D the solenoid A and the described appliances influenced thereby and connected therewith, the solenoids A A and the described appliances influenced thereby and connected therewith, and the electrical connections 1, 2, a 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, said parts being arranged for cooperation substantially as and'for the purposes specified.

17. The combination, with the solenoid A its tubular spool G, having extension G and the described parts connected therewith, and the tubular holder H and the described parts connected therewith and contained therein, supported from the spool of the solenoid, of the sleeve 9, and bridge or brace D, and means for adjusting the solenoid in said sleeve, substantially as specified.

18. The combination,with the carboirholder H, the carbon 0*, and the contact-spring S of the solenoid A the tubular spool G thereof, having extension G, the screw-plug I, having a tubular projection, 45, and the spring-actuated contact 1, contained in said projection, said parts being arranged for co operation substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of December, 1888.

GEORGES ANTOINE TABOURIN.

W'itnesses:

CAMILLE Gniinnorrin, EMILE Kan'rnn.

ICO 

